Harry Stephenson was born in Nelson, British Columbia to Charles and Hannah Stephenson. He grew up and lived in Kilkerran, BC and was employed as a gasoline motor engineer at the time of his enlistment in July 1940 in Dawson Creek, BC. He was assigned to the 10th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers and sent to their home station in Lethbridge, Alberta and then to Camp Petawawa in September to start his sapper training.
Harry passed the test to qualify as a Carpenters Helper Group ‘C’ in August 1940. His sapper training continued over the next year including attending and passing the Anti-Aircraft and Light Machine Gun Course at Point Petre, Ontario in June 1941 and qualifying as a Driver Class III in September. A month later, he was sent to Camp Borden and attached to the Camp Engineer for one month and then to Dawson Creek until returning to Petawawa later in the fall in time to travel to the United Kingdom with the squadron.
In England, training with the 5th Canadian Armoured Division intensified. Harry qualified as a Carpenter Group ‘B’. The squadron took part in many Assault School exercises and Harry by January 1943 was appointed Acting Lance Corporal, and Lance Corporal in March. The Squadron arrived in Naples in November 1943 after an eventful journey in which one ship carrying Canadian troops was sunk by enemy aircraft with no loss of life.
In February, Harry was promoted to Corporal. The 10th Field Squadron took part in the Liri Valley Campaign where Harry was wounded. He returned to duty a month later and moved up with the squadron through Tuscany. By August 1944, the squadron found itself on its way to the Gothic Line on Italy’s east coast. Most tasks along the way involved route construction and maintenance with a heavy emphasis on mine clearing and crater repair. The work was dangerous with many men wounded or killed, but Harry managed not to get hurt again.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck while they were preparing for the assault on Coriano Ridge on the morning of 11 September. Harry with other members of the Squadron were having breakfast in shifts near a kitchen truck. A stray shell hit the kitchen tent causing 28 casualties – six killed outright, three seriously wounded who later died of wounds, and 11 seriously injured. Harry was among those killed. He is buried in the Gradara Commonwealth War Cemetery in Italy.
